indicia

USAGE SUMMARY

'indicia' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun meaning "a sign or set of signs that indicate or suggest something." For example, "The indicia of a successful business included a loyal customer base and good reviews."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Most of the reliable indicia of what he's up to involve his cultivating close political relations with specific groups, in particular locales, that know exactly what they want from government.

The New Yorker

Can a spectacle so lacking in the indicia of importance — no pageantry, no emotions, not even any speaking — really be the beating heart of capitalism?

The New Yorker

According to Picard, Wilpon and his partners "made so much easy money from Madoff for so long that despite the many objective indicia of fraud before them, the Sterling partners simply chose to look the other way".

The New Yorker

Instead, according to Picard, Wilpon and Katz were enablers, virtually Madoff's accomplices in the vast crime, who "willfully turned a blind eye to every objective indicia of fraud before them".

The New Yorker

That question included the famous choice between Vice President Al Gore's desire to count "dimpled chads" and other arguable indicia of an intent to vote, and Governor Bush's desire to count only clear ballot punches.

The New York Times

"Grades are important, but there are other important indicia, like leadership and diligence.

The New York Times

Justice Thomas proposed adopting "a reading of the confrontation clause that respects its historically limited application to a narrow class of statements bearing indicia of solemnity".

The New York Times

Deborah Lane, Alabama's assistant vice president for university relations, said it was seeking to protect "the value and reputation of our trademarks, name, colors, indicia and logos, by determining who uses them, as well as when and how they are used".

The New York Times - Sports

The prince must "subordinate all other indicia of right behavior to the one parameter of serving the state".

The New York Times - Books

Justice Alito agreed, writing that drug company representatives "bear all the external indicia of salesmen".

The New York Times

A 1986 Supreme Court decision, Malley v. Briggs, said police officers should be denied immunity from such lawsuits "only where the warrant application is so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render official belief in its existence unreasonable".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indicia" when you want to sound formal. For less formal contexts alternatives like "signs" or "clues" are better suited.

Common error

Avoid using "indicia" in everyday conversation or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound pretentious or out of place; simpler words like "signs" or "clues" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "indicia" is as a noun, typically used in the plural form to denote multiple signs or indications. As Ludwig AI confirms, it refers to things that point to or suggest something else. Examples from news sources show it describing elements hinting at fraud or economic trends.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indicia" functions as a noun that signifies signs or indications of something. Ludwig AI points out its common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, with a formal tone. For more casual settings, synonyms such as "signs", "indications", or "clues" might be more appropriate. The phrase is generally grammatically correct and useful for nuanced, formal discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

signs

Focuses on the direct evidence or signals suggesting something.

indications

Emphasizes the act of pointing out or suggesting something indirectly.

evidence

Highlights factual information that supports a claim or conclusion.

clues

Suggests subtle or indirect hints that lead to a discovery.

markers

Focuses on elements that serve to identify or distinguish something.

badges

Implies a visible symbol or token indicating status or affiliation.

hallmarks

Highlights distinctive features or characteristics.

attributes

Focuses on inherent qualities or characteristics.

features

Highlights prominent aspects or characteristics of something.

circumstantial details

Emphasizes secondary or indirect elements suggesting a conclusion.

FAQs

How to use "indicia" in a sentence?

The word "indicia" is typically used to refer to signs or indications of something. For example, "The presence of weeds can be an indicia of soil erosion".

What can I say instead of "indicia"?

You can use alternatives like "signs", "indications", or "clues" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "indicia" or "indicium"?

"Indicia" is the plural form of "indicium". Use "indicium" for a single sign or indication, and "indicia" for multiple signs or indications.

What's the difference between "indicia" and "evidence"?

"Indicia" refers to signs or indications that suggest something, while "evidence" is factual information that directly supports a claim. "Indicia" can be suggestive, while "evidence" aims to be conclusive.